阅读理解
Opportunities for rewarding work become fewer for both men and women as they grow older. After age 40, job hunting becomes even more difficult. Many workers stay at jobs they are too old for rather than face possible rejection. Our youth-oriented, throw-away culture sees little value in older people. In writer Lilian Hellman''s words, they have "the wisdom that comes with age that we can''t make use of. "
Unemployment and economic need for work is higher among older women, especially minorities, than among younger white women. A national council reports these findings: Though unemployed longer when seeking word, older women job-hunting harder, hold a job longer with less absenteeism, perform as well or better, are more reliable, and are more willing to learn than men or younger women. Yet many older women earn poor pay and face a future of poverty in their retirement years. When
"sexism meets ageism, poverty is no longer on the doorstep——it moves in" , according to Tish Sommers, director of a special study on older women for the National Organization for Women.
Yet a 1981 report on the White House Conference in Aging shows that as a group, older Americans are the " wealthiest, best fed, best housed, healthiest, most self-reliant older population in our history. " This statement is small comfort to those living below the poverty line, but it does explode some of the old traditional beliefs and fears. Opportunities for moving in and up in a large company may shrink but many older people begin successful small businesses, volunteer in satisfying activities, and stay active for many years. They have few role models because in previous generations the life span was much shorter and expectations of life were fewer. They are ploughing new ground.
Employers are beginning to recognize that the mature person can bring a great deal of stability and responsibility to a position. One doesn''t lose ability and experience on the eve of one''s 65th or 70th birthday any more than one grows up instantly at age 21.
单选题
After age of 40, ________
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】本题为细节题。文章第一段“Many workers stay at jobs they are too old for rather than face possible rejection”，说明很多人在年过四十之后依然选择守着自己已经不适合的工作，而不愿去面对可能遭遇拒绝的危险。
单选题
From Hellman''s remark, we can see that________
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】本题为细节题。第一段最后一句说道“the wisdom that comes with age that we can’t make use of”说明年纪大的同样富有智慧。A显然不合提议；B过于绝对，不合题意；D本身表述正确，但没有体现在“Hellman”的话中。
单选题
Tish Sommers argues that________
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】本题为推理题。第二段提到“When‘sexism meets ageism，poverty is no longer on the doorstep—it moves in’”，即如果你不但是女性，而且上来年纪，那么一定难逃穷困。
单选题
According to the third paragraph, it can be seen that older Americans________
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】本题为细节题。“but many older people begin successful small businesses，volunteer in satisfying activities，and stay active for many years．”与C选项意思相符。
单选题
It can be concluded from the passage that the writer________